Albert Sacco

Albert Sacco Jr., born on May 3, 1949, in Boston, Massachusetts, is a distinguished American chemical engineer and astronaut. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University in 1973, followed by a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. His academic career began at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he became a full professor and department head in 1989.

In 1995, Sacco made history as a Payload Specialist on the Space Shuttle Columbia during mission STS-73, which launched on October 20 and returned on November 5. His journey into space was preceded by his selection for the ill-fated STS-107 mission, where he trained alongside six other astronauts before being replaced.

Beyond his contributions to space exploration, Sacco has held significant academic leadership roles. He served as the Dean of the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech University from January 1, 2011, until August 16, 2022. Currently, he is the Provost and Dean of the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, a position he has held since August 2023.